Horse-detacher.



J. E. DREW.

HORSE DETACHER.

APPLIOATION FILED APR.21.1909.

Patented June 21, 1910.

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- APPLICATION FILED APR.21,1909. 61391 n Patnd June 2l, 193,0.

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sra ns JOSEPH E. DREW, OF BRADENTOVJN, FLORIDA.

HORSE-DETACI-IER.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 21, 1909.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, JOSEPH E. DREW, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bradentown, in the county of Manatee and State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Horse-Detachers, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for de taching animals from vehicles while in motion, and has for an object to lprovide such a device adapted for engagement with vehicles of various types.

A particular object of the invention is to provide coperating means adapted to disengage both the traces and other connections between horses and a vehicle.

Another object is to provide a novel form of snap hook especially adapted for use with this device.

Another object is to provide a novel form of trace-engaging and releasing means of an eective type.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent from the following description and it will be understood that changes in the specific structure shown and described may be made within the scope of the claim without departing from the spirit of the invention. it

In the drawings forming a portion of this specification, and in which like numerals of reference indicate similar parts in the several views, Figure 1 is a top plan view of the device engaged upon a set of shafts, Fig. 2 is a rear view of a swingletree haying such a device thereon, Fig. 3 is a bottom view of one end of the device in detail, showing a trace engaged therewith, Fig. 4 is a similar view showing the device in releasing position, Fig. 5 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through one of the trace-re leasing members.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a pair of shafts 10 having a cross piece 11 supporting a swingletree 12 of the usual type. Centrally of the swingletree there 1s a double guide member 12 receiving flexible operating members 18, extending forwardly through the guide and divergently therefrom to the release members 14 at opposite ends of the swingletree. Each of the release members includes a base member 16 comprising a swingletree engaging plate 17 suitably perforated for the reception of fastening means, and carrying at its outer end a head 18 vertically projected above and below the plate and being horizontally perforated at its opposite ends, as shown. Its lower portion 19 is provided on its inner side with an enlarged socket 20 adapted to engage over the end of the swingletree to reinforce the engagement of the releasing member with the swingletree, as will be understood. At the opposite end of the plate 17 there is a horizontally perforated lug 21, the upper end of which is bifurcated and laterally perforated as shown, to carry a releasing dog 22 pivoted therein and having an inward extension 28 adapted to engage against the inner end of a slidable member 25 disposed in the horizontal opening through the lug and upper end of the head 18, the function of which is subsequently to be described. The upper end of the dog carries a pivoted member 26 suitable for engagement with the flexible operating member 13. y

Disposed slidably in the lug 21 and the upper portion 18 of the cross head 18, there is a latch member 25 having an enlarged shoulder at its outer end and being turned downwardly to carry a horizontally revoluble trace-engaging pin 27 projected into the apertured portion 19 of the head 18 and recess 32 in the swingletree. The extension 26 of the member 25 is reduced at its lower end, and receives pivotally thereover an enlarged head 28 of the member 27, a suitable retaining member 29 being engaged outwardly of the member 27 to retain it thereon. The head 28 is provided with a lateral extension 30 on its rearward side, the inner edge of which is disposed at right angles to the axis of the portion 27.

Spaced forwardly of the swingletree upon the shafts 10, there are back strap engaging members 35 each comprising a hook 36 having a shank 37 engaged pivotally at its extremity against the inner face of the shaft. Secured to the shank 37, there is a resilient tongue 38 disposed yieldably against the bill 89, turned laterally inward therefrom and curved outwardly to lie snugly within the bight 40 of the hook 36 as shown. The hook 86 is secured to the shaft at'the end of the shank 37 pivotally, and adjacent the bight 40 there is a perforated lug 41 carrying pivotally a strap-engaging member 42. Spaced rearwardly of the hook, there is a strap anchor 43 secured pivotally to the shaft as shown, and receiving a strap 44 commonly connected with the member 42 as shown .to allow oscillation ofthe hookV 3 6 within a restricted limit.

In use, an animal is hitched in the usual manner to a vehicle equipped with my invention, the back strap being snapped into the hooks 36 as will be understood. It will be seen that the inwardly turned ortion of the tongue 38 extends rearwardly inward at an acute angle with respect tothe bill 39, so that a forward pressure ofthe back strap therein will depress the tongue and effect the release of the strap. The releasing members'l are extended rearwardly from the swingletree to the adjacent vehicle body, and when it is desired to release an animal a pull thereon will release the traces, and the continued forward movementof the released animal will disengage the back strap from the members 35, as will be understood. Themember carries'projections 46 adjacent to the lug 21, and engaged concentrically around the member 25 there is a spring 16' bearing oppositely against the projections 46' and the portion 18 of the head 18. It will be seen that upon releasing the device, the inner ends of the pins will be disengaged from the portion 19 of the head 18,

and allowed to swing forward under the pull of the trace. In this action, the portion 30 upon the rear part of the member 27 will engage against the trace at its rearmost portion, and in the pivotal movement of the pin will tend to force the trace outwardly of the pins, facilitating its ready disengagement therefrom and preventing its accidental' binding upon the pin and failure of the device to properly operate.

What is claimed is:-

In a device of the class described, a trace releasing member comprising a body portion adapted .to be engaged with the extremityA of a swingletree, and having spaced guide projections thereon, a member `longitudinally reciprocable therein and projecting inwardly of the inner projection, resilient means coengaged with the reciprocating member to'hold it at the inner limit of its movement, said reciprocating member hav-V ing its outer extremity turned downwardly7 Y pel it outwardly,fsaid retaining pin beingY `Vj adapted to be seated in a suitable socket at the extremity of a swingletree for the support of a trace against disengagement, and means for operating said dog Y In testimony whereof I afEx my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH E, DREW.

Witnesses:

E.' KRETSCHMOR, JAS. A. HERRIN. 

